TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Residents on Monday discovered a dead leopard cat along Meigang Road in Changhua County, marking the county’s first reported leopard cat roadkill case in 2026.

Changhua County Councilor Lai Ching-mei (賴清美) said she initially received reports of a deceased stray cat. A closer inspection later confirmed the animal was a leopard cat, a protected species, per CNA. Lai said the sighting was unusual, as leopard cats are more commonly found in the Baguashan mountain range.

The Changhua County Department of Agriculture said the animal may have been struck by a vehicle while crossing the road in search of food, based on conditions at the scene. The department said it will notify the Highway Bureau to explore measures to address leopard cat road-crossing risks.

County data show another leopard cat was found dead in Changhua in November 2025, with a dead rat discovered beside the animal, suggesting it may also have been hit while foraging.

Leopard cats are Taiwan’s only remaining native wild feline species, per Newtalk. They typically inhabit forested hills and low-altitude mountainous areas below about 1,000 meters in western Taiwan.

Habitat loss, along with threats from stray dogs and cats, has pushed the species close to extinction. Stable leopard cat populations are primarily found in Miaoli, Taichung and Nantou counties, while areas such as Hsinchu, Changhua, Yunlin and Tainan report only sporadic sightings.

Recent conservation efforts have shown signs of progress. The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency’s Chiayi branch reported the first confirmed leopard cat sighting in the Alishan mountain range in 31 years in November last year.

The agency’s Taichung branch said in October that leopard cats have expanded their range in Taichung’s Dongshih District, including riverbanks along the Dajia River and farmland participating in leopard cat–friendly farming practices, per CNA. Earlier records showed activity largely limited to mountainous areas bordering Heping District.

Dongshih lies along a key corridor linking different leopard cat populations. Under conservation-friendly farming initiatives, leopard cats have begun moving into farmland in Dongshih and neighboring Xinshe District. Dongshih farmers have recorded sightings for two consecutive years.

Taipei Zoo currently houses several rescued leopard cats, including three introduced in November: Wafer Roll, Ping Ping, and A Gei, per UDN. Wafer Roll and Ping Ping each lost a limb after being caught in traps, while A Gei, found in Tamsui — an area without a natural leopard cat population — lacks the skills needed to survive in the wild.

The zoo said the animals cannot be released but will serve as ambassadors to educate the public about the threats leopard cats face in the wild. Visitors are urged to keep noise and movement to a minimum when viewing the animals.